minnow

min·now

noun \ˈmi-(ˌ)nō\

plural minnows also minnow

Definition of MINNOW

1

a : a small cyprinid, killifish, or topminnow

b : any of various small fish that are less than a designated size and are not game fish

2

: a live or artificial minnow used as bait

Origin of MINNOW

Middle English menawe; akin to Old English myne minnow, Old High German munewa, a kind of fish

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with MINNOW

winnow

minnow

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Small fishes, especially of the carp family (Cyprinidae), as well as some rockfish (family Umbridae) and killifishes (family Cyprinodontidae). The numerous species of North American cyprinid minnows are freshwater fishes, 2.4–12 in. (6–30 cm) long. Many are valuable as food for fishes, birds, and other animals and as live bait. The bluntnose (Pimephales notatus) and fathead (P. promelas) minnows, the common shiner, and the American roach are good bait species. The term also refers to the young of many large fish species. The minnow of Europe and northern Asia (Phoxinus phoxinus) is about 3 in. (7.5 cm) long and varies from golden to green.